Sologne ponds and forests: where to walk and when to go

People come to the Sologne for water and trees, and soon find that most ponds lie behind “propriété privée” signs. This guide explains how the landscape came about, where you can actually walk and which season to pick.

Why are there so many ponds in the Sologne?

Because people dug them. The Sologne has about 3,000 ponds, close to 11,500 hectares of water, and most are artificial: they were created from the Middle Ages onwards to farm fish.

The soil explains the rest. It is sand and clay, waterlogged in winter and dry in summer. Water does not drain away, so a simple earth bank is enough to hold a pond. Forest now covers about three quarters of the area, with oak, pine and birch, and heaths of heather and broom between the plots.

Where can you see the Sologne ponds up close?

Start in Saint-Viâtre, 29 min from the cottage (24 km). The Maison des Étangs explains the wildlife, the plants, fish farming and how a pond is managed. It opens daily from April to October and a few days a week from November to March. Dogs on a lead are admitted.

The museum is above all a starting point. It will direct you to the nearby ponds laid out for visitors:

• the Étang de la Ville, in Saint-Viâtre, with a 1.7 km wildlife and plant trail;
• the Plan d'eau du Mouet, with a 1.5 km path and a bird hide;
• the Étang de Malzoné, with two interpretive trails and hides;
• the Étang des Levrys, with two paths and a hide;
• the Étang de Beaumont, a protected natural site with a hide.

Ask at the desk which one is best on the day: water levels and birds change from week to week.

Can you walk freely in the Sologne forest?

No, not everywhere. The forest is overwhelmingly private, and many estates are fenced. There is no general right to roam: you walk on public lanes, waymarked paths and laid-out routes, not across the woods.

Three options work without unpleasant surprises:

• The cycle loop no. 14, En forêt sur la piste du Cerf (31 min, 28 km): 15 km from Marolle-en-Sologne, about 1 h 20 by bike, 71% of it on cycle paths. It passes through Villeny.
• The Maison du Cerf, in Villeny (36 min, 33 km): a museum about red deer, useful before heading into the forest with children. Check the opening days on the official website.
• The Canal de Berry, to the south: the Cœur de France à Vélo (V46) cycle route follows it on a traffic-free path. From Mennetou-sur-Cher (18 min, 16 km) you follow the water on the flat, then visit the medieval village on the way back.

For bike routes, see our guide to cycling in the Sologne. With a dog, keep it on a lead near the water.

What is the best season for the ponds and forests?

Each season shows something different, and late summer and autumn are the richest.

• Late August and September: the heather flowers and turns the heaths purple.
• Mid-September to mid-October: the red deer rut. Our guide to the deer rut in the Sologne says where to listen.
• Autumn and winter: the pond-fishing season. The pond is drained and the fish are netted. In Saint-Viâtre, the Étang de la Ville is fished with a seine net every year on the last Saturday of October, in public.
• All year: birds. The Sologne is home to more than 200 species. Bring binoculars for the hides.

Whatever the month, wear closed shoes: the ground stays damp for much of the year.

Why stay in Romorantin for walks in the Sologne?

Romorantin lies south of the pond country, under 40 min from every starting point listed here. You walk in the morning near Saint-Viâtre or Villeny, come back for lunch and keep the afternoon for the Cher valley or a château.

The house helps when you get back: an enclosed garden to dry your boots, a fireplace for autumn evenings, private parking and room for 6. Pets are welcome. See the cottage or write to us with any practical question, such as where to keep bikes.